Comparing Putters ?

[Oops!]

As I mentioned here before, I bought a new putter, but my first impression is anything but impressive.
However, before I write it off, I want to give it a fair chance.
That’s why I’m wondering how I can do that best.
Do you have any ideas for a real “testing program” that would allow me to compare putters better—preferably objectively?
And how long do you think I should play/practice with it for, at a minimum?

 

[Bunkermagnet]

As I mentioned here before, I bought a new putter, but my first impression is anything but impressive.
However, before I write it off, I want to give it a fair chance.
That’s why I’m wondering how I can do that best.
Do you have any ideas for a real “testing program” that would allow me to compare putters better—preferably objectively?
And how long do you think I should play/practice with it for, at a minimum?

Play a few games with it. How does t feel lagging it to the hole?
How is it both long and short putts?
Does it give you confidence?
I will be honest, if a putter deosn't feel right in my hand, no matter how it performs I won't buy or use it.
Ive tried plenty of centre shafted putters and I just don't see the love. I don't like mallets, they are too heavy for me. Many of the high MOI putters seem like your putting with a trampolene.
To me, a putter that looks good TO YOU, and you like how it feels in your hand is half the battle.

 

[IanM]

I always think that it's time to get a new putter when you think it is!!

In other words it's really all in the mind. If you don't have confidence in it now, you might never!

 

[Oops!]

Play a few games with it. How does t feel lagging it to the hole?
How is it both long and short putts?
Does it give you confidence?
I will be honest, if a putter deosn't feel right in my hand, no matter how it performs I won't buy or use it.
Ive tried plenty of centre shafted putters and I just don't see the love. I don't like mallets, they are too heavy for me. Many of the high MOI putters seem like your putting with a trampolene.
To me, a putter that looks good TO YOU, and you like how it feels in your hand is half the battle.

Well, I can only compare the Cleaveland to my Ray Cook and the Odyssey.
I experience the “trampoline effect” you mentioned regularly with the Odyssey, though—for me (!)—it’s completely unpredictable: No matter how I hit the ball, the speed at which it rolls varies considerably and—again, for me (!)—is completely unpredictable and therefore impossible to calculate. That’s why the Odyssey is out and up for sale.
The first few strokes with the Cleaveland felt “powerful” but predictable. However, in the end, they weren’t as accurate as the putts with my Ray Cook.
That said, I have to admit that the Cleaveland—at least for now—hasn’t (yet?) won my confidence, let alone increased it.
The Ray Cook still has that for now.
However, as I said, I only played for 45 minutes on the putting green today, mainly hitting 12 balls alternately with both putters from about 5 meters.

 

[Neilds]

Well, I can only compare the Cleaveland to my Ray Cook and the Odyssey.
I experience the “trampoline effect” you mentioned regularly with the Odyssey, though—for me (!)—it’s completely unpredictable: No matter how I hit the ball, the speed at which it rolls varies considerably and—again, for me (!)—is completely unpredictable and therefore impossible to calculate. That’s why the Odyssey is out and up for sale.
The first few strokes with the Cleaveland felt “powerful” but predictable. However, in the end, they weren’t as accurate as the putts with my Ray Cook.
That said, I have to admit that the Cleaveland—at least for now—hasn’t (yet?) won my confidence, let alone increased it.
The Ray Cook still has that for now.
However, as I said, I only played for 45 minutes on the putting green today, mainly hitting 12 balls alternately with both putters from about 5 meters.

If you were hitting the same putt twice your results will be skewed towards the second putt. Try the putters in real rounds to see which one feels best.

 

[nickjdavis]

To answer your last question....6 months. Youve got to give it a chance...half an hour on a putting green isnt enough.

If you want some tests....

1) Hit 10 straight flat putts to a hole, 4 from 12ft, 3 from 18ft, 3 from 24ft....rotate the distances...so 12,24,18,12,24,18,12,24,18,12, repeat with the other putter, do it again with both putters...this time reverse...so Putter B goes first....you will soon see which gives you better distance control and dispersion.

2) Hit 10 putts from 6ft from positions around the hole like a clock face...see how many you hole...repeat with the other putter...again you will see if either putter holes more putts.

3) Same as 2 but this time from 3ft.

Do these tests as many times as you want until you get a feel for which putter "performs" better. If neither seems to have an advantage, pick the one that feels most comfortable and visually appealing.

 

[GreiginFife]

You’ve gone from a heel shafted lump in the Ray Cook to a centre shaft milled face in the Cleveland. It’s hardly a surprise that it’s a different beast. You will need to play it for longer than 30 minutes to adjust. Face balanced and centre shaft aren’t or everyone.

 

[Oops!]

You’ve gone from a heel shafted lump in the Ray Cook to a centre shaft milled face in the Cleveland. It’s hardly a surprise that it’s a different beast. You will need to play it for longer than 30 minutes to adjust. Face balanced and centre shaft aren’t or everyone.

So please, there's no need to get rude!
(Don't let my Ray Cook hear that! )

 

[Bunkermagnet]

So please, there's no need to get rude!
(Don't let my Ray Cook hear that! )

Ultimately, we all have different ideas and opinions with our putters. The only common thinking is it must give you confidence.
When I practice putting before heading out for a game, I never take 2 putts at a single hole. I place a ball down, then go for a hole. Whether it drops or not it's onto another hole and so on.

 

[Crow]

I love playing an awkward putter, trying to work out how to get the best out of it, where's the sweet spot, etc,etc.

It's only for a week and then I swap it out for something else.

 

[clubchamp98]

So please, there's no need to get rude!
(Don't let my Ray Cook hear that! )

You have mentioned the Ray Cook that much that I fail to see why you have bought a new putter.

Put Ray away for a few weeks and you will know soon enough.

 

[kp17]

Give it a few month at least

 

[Orikoru]

Ultimately, we all have different ideas and opinions with our putters. The only common thinking is it must give you confidence.
When I practice putting before heading out for a game, I never take 2 putts at a single hole. I place a ball down, then go for a hole. Whether it drops or not it's onto another hole and so on.

Yeah I do the same, I only use one ball. Then it's more like how I would putt during the round. It also forces me to actually read the green - I find people who use two or three balls just whack the first one to show them the line then hit the others on that line.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

First things first, stop comparing it to the Ray Cook, put that away and focus solely on using the new one. How do tou expect to get a real feel for it if you’re constantly flitting between 2 putters every other stroke. The one you’re used to will always feel better in that instance.

Secondly, spend time just putting and getting a feel for the new one. Don’t aim at a hole pop a tee in the green on a flat part at 10, 20 & 30ft and just aim to stop the ball at those distances. That will help focus on feel rather than target and strike will be more natural. After that take it to the course for a few weeks get used to it and if in a months time it’s no good at least you gave it a go.

 

[Springveldt]

As I mentioned here before, I bought a new putter, but my first impression is anything but impressive.
However, before I write it off, I want to give it a fair chance.
That’s why I’m wondering how I can do that best.
Do you have any ideas for a real “testing program” that would allow me to compare putters better—preferably objectively?
And how long do you think I should play/practice with it for, at a minimum?

Normally when you get a new putter it feels great straight away and then that feeling dissipates over time as you miss more and more putts with it.

For me, I track my stats with ShotScope and when I got a new putter last year it improved my putting straight away but I still gave it to 300 putts just to be sure. After those 300 or so putts it was obvious the new putter was working much better than the old one.

I don't really think you can go onto a practice green and hit putts with one then the other to compare, it's best to use them in real rounds, track the stats and see which one is working best.

 

[Springveldt]

Yeah I do the same, I only use one ball. Then it's more like how I would putt during the round. It also forces me to actually read the green - I find people who use two or three balls just whack the first one to show them the line then hit the others on that line.

I like doing that though so I know that I'm starting my putts on line. I usually end a quick putting session with trying to knock 3 in a row in from about 3 foot at the same spot, just to give me the confidence that I'm starting putts on line that day. Scrambles my head if I miss any though.

 

[Orikoru]

I like doing that though so I know that I'm starting my putts on line. I usually end a quick putting session with trying to knock 3 in a row in from about 3 foot at the same spot, just to give me the confidence that I'm starting putts on line that day. Scrambles my head if I miss any though.

Yeah, my biggest weakness in putting is reading the greens and judging the slope so I'd be doing myself a disservice if I did what I said others do and just whacked one first to show me the line.

I tend to take the view that I don't want to actually hole any on the practice green as then I've wasted a good one.